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The general insurance industry in Vietnam is forecasted to grow at 3.4% in 2020, compared to the 13.6% growth registered in 2019, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The general insurance business is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% over 2019-2024 as compared to 13.7% during 2015-2019, primarily due to the slowdown in economic activities post COVID-19 pandemic.

Sangharsan Biswas, Insurance Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Sluggish economic growth in 2020 due to COVID-19 will adversely affect the general insurance business outlook. Slowdown in external trade activities, decline in tourist arrivals coupled with recent incidences of floods and typhoons in the country are expected to limit economic growth, resulting in lower premiums earnings.”

The impact of slowdown is most prominent in motor insurance, which accounted for over 30% of general insurance premium in 2019. New car sales declined by 22% during January to September 2020 as compared to same period last year, dampening the motor insurance premium earnings. Despite, the government measures to boost car sales, dwindling consumer demand for automobiles will exacerbate the growth of motor insurance business in the short-term.

A similar impact is visible in the marine, aviation and transit (MAT) insurance business line, which accounted for 10.8% of the general insurance premiums in 2019. Despite the surge in exports during September-October 2020, supply chain disruptions in the first half of 2020 and weak economic conditions of major trading partners such as China, the US and Japan are expected to bring down premium earnings by 3.3% in 2020.

Health insurance, which accounted for one-third of the general insurance business in 2019, is expected to increase due to growing consumer awareness. Growth in health insurance is expected to partially insulate the impact of slowdown in other business lines.

Mr Biswas concludes: “The current economic uncertainty combined with the risk of the further spread of COVID-19 post the resumption of business activities is expected to limit the growth of Vietnam’s general insurance in 2020.”